Using the 7i96 configuration tool

Hi All

I just wanted some guidance on the configuration tool please.
Firmware is 4 stepgens and pwm


1st) On machine tab under board setup there is an option for number of stepgens, default is 5. As I have the PWM firmware should I change this to 4?
2nd) Display: Position feedback is the center of the tool I'm guessing, Relative being to include tool offset. Which one does people go for here in relation to Z offset?
3rd) Same screen position feedback: Would i be correct in Commanded being what you've asked it to do, actual is based on encoder feedback?
4th) Axis Tab: I have closed loop hybrid steppers; Is the PID settings relevant to me? If so please advise where I can find the values.
5th) Spindle Tab: What PWM frequency should I use? Is this arbitrary or a value I should find in my Spindle Manual? PID Settings- I am using my spindle in torque mode, where would I find the values to be entered here?
6th) Inputs: My old Stepconf machine had an option of all home inputs into one pin? Can I do this with this or do I have to edit the HAL file?
7th) Should I select any Debug options? I used to like it when I changed settings and it told me I was an idiot and what to change back on startup; Is this to do with this?
8th) Thread period? What number goes here? I did a latency test and the standard servo thread showing never got worse than 15,000.
9th)NIC test is it the max speed number?

Then do I just click Build Configuration and it does it like StepConf used to do?

Thanks in advance for saving my CNC build

Jools

1- not sure?
2- yes, if the display is set to relative, all offsets both tool and work coordinates are included in the value shown. if set to machine only the home offset is included.
3- yes
4- If you have the encoder feed back connected to Linuxcnc, then you can optionally use it in the PID to close the loop. If you have a standard hardware stepgen config, there will still be a PID configured, but it will recieve it's feedback from the hardware stepgen. If you use the real encoder feedback you will have to tune the PID (the settings for it are saved in your INI file. If you keep the default open loop setup, no tuning of the PID is required, Pncconfig will set them.
5- not sure?
6- Yes this is possible.
7- Shouldn't need to.
8- Keep this as the default 1000000.
9- ?

Yes, Pncconfig works much like Stepconf, as far as building the config files for you.
(I have not tried one of the new Ethernet cards from Mesa yet.)

Hi Todd
Thanks for the quick reply.

The tool I'm using is the specialist 7i96 configuration tool that John Thornton kindly developed. This tool builds the INI and HAL file as I understand.

Jools

I haven't tried to use that yet, but I'd assume that it does. (That's the whole point of it.)